An English Language Seminar

A Figure of Speech is a departure from the ordinary form of expression, or the ordinary course of ideas in order to produce a greater effect.

What is a figure of speech?

A figure of speech is figurative language in the form of a single word or phrase.

It can be a special repetition, arrangement or omission of words with literal meaning, or a phrase with a specialized meaning not based on the literal meaning of the words.

What?!A figure of speech is essentially a word or

phrase used in a non-literal sense for rhetorical or vivid effect.

They are plainly defined as saying one thing in terms of something else. What does that mean? Well, it's simple, actually.

*literal - taking words in their usual or most basic sense without metaphor or exaggeration* rhetoric- the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing

Whenever you say something, but you don't mean it literally, you are using a figure of speech. Let's say you are about to head out to the store and your mother says, 'You better take a jacket; it's raining cats and dogs out there.’

Does your mom literally mean animals are falling from the sky?

Types of figures of speech

Those based on ResemblanceEg:- Simile, Metaphor,

Personification, Apostrophe

Those based on ContrastEg:- Antithesis, Epigram

Those based on AssociationEg:- Metonymy, Synecdoche

Those based on ConstructionEg:- Climax, Anticlimax

SIMILE

In a simile, a comparison is made between two objects of different kinds which have, however, one point in common.

The simile is usually introduced be words as like, as or so.

Eg: As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God.

METAPHORA metaphor is an implied simile. It does not, like the

simile, state that one thing is like another or acts as another, but takes that for granted and proceeds as if the two things were one.

Eg: The camel is a ship of the desert.

Note: Every simile can be compressed into a metaphor and every metaphor can expanded into a simile.

Thus, instead of saying:Akash fought like a lion. (Simile)

we can say,Akash was a lion in the fight. (Metaphor)

PERSONIFICATION

In Personification, inanimate objects and abstract notions are spoken of as having life and intelligence.

Personification occurs when the author or speaker gives human characteristics to non-human objects.

For example: 'The trees scream in the raging wind.'

Can trees actually scream? No, that is a human trait. So the use of personification here gives a better description of the sound trees make in strong winds.

APOSTROPHE

An Apostrophe is a direct address to the dead, to the absent, or to a personified object or idea. This figure is a special form of Personification.

Eg: "Oh! Stars and clouds and winds, ye are all about to mock me; if ye really pity me, crush sensation and memory; let me become as nought; but if not, depart, depart, and leave me in darkness."(Mary Shelley, Frankenstein, 1818)

HYPERBOLE

In Hyperbole, a statement is made emphatic by overstatement.

Eg: “I’ve told you a million times”

EUPHEMISM

Euphemism consists in the description of a disagreeable thing by an agreeable name.

Eg: You are telling me a fairy tale (i.e., a lie).

ANTITHESIS

In antithesis, a striking opposition or contrast of words or sentiments is made in the same sentence. It is employed to secure emphasis.

Eg: Speech is silver, but silence is golden.

OXYMORON

Oxymoron is a special form of Antithesis, whereby two contradictory qualities are predicted at once of the same thing.

Eg: "I am busy doing nothing."

EPIGRAM

An Epigram is a brief pointed saying frequently introducing antithetical ideas which excite surprise and arrest attention.

Eg: “Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put and end to mankind.” – John F. Kennedy

“Live simply, so that others may simply live.” – Mother Teresa

IRONY

Irony is a mode of speech in which the real meaning is exactly the opposite of that which is literally conveyed.

Eg: For Brutus is an honourable man;So are they all, all honourable men

The quote (spoken by Marc Antony) is reporting that Brutus (a tyrant) is an honourable man.

However, Marc Antony does not agree and is saying that if Brutus is an honourable man then everyone is honourable; in effect, he is no different than anyone else (and is indeed worse).

PUNA Pun is the use of a word in such a way that it is

capable of more than one application, the object being to produce a ludicrous effect.

Eg: Is life worth living?— It depends upon the liver.

METONYMY

In Metonymy (literally, a change of name), an object is designated to be the name of something else which is generally associated with it.

Eg: The Crown, for the King

SYNECDOCHE

In Synecdoche, (i) a part is used to designate the whole or (ii) the whole to designate a part.

Eg: (i) Give us the day our daily bread.(ii) England (i.e. the English cricket team) won

the first test match against Australia.

TRANSFERRED EPITHET

In this figure, an epithet (a word or phrase that describes a person or thing) is transferred from its proper word to another that is closely associated with it in the sentence.

Eg: dreamless sleep

LITOTES

In Litotes, an affirmative is conveyed by negation of the opposite, the effect being to suggest a strong expression by means of a weaker. It is the opposite of Hyperbole.

Eg: The man is no fool (=very clever).

INTERROGATION

AKA the Rhetorical Question!Interrogation is the asking of a question not for

the sake of getting an answer, but to put a point out more effectively.

ANASTROPHE

EXCLAMATION

In this figure, the exclamatory form is used to draw greater attention to a point than a mere bald or plain statement of it could do.

Eg: How sweet the moonlight on upon this bank!

CLIMAX

Climax is the arrangement of a series of ideas in the order of increasing importance.

Eg: "There are three things that will endure: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love."

ANTICLIMAX

Anticlimax is the opposite of Climax— a sudden descent from higher to lower. It is chiefly used for the purpose of satire or ridicule.

Eg: He lost his family, his car and his cell phone.

ONOMATOPOEIA

Onomatopoeia is the formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named E.g.: cuckoo,sizzle

PARAPROSDOKIAN